Device for dispensing discrete particles



Nov. 6, 1951 l. s. BOYDSTUN 2,574,165

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING DISCRETE PARTICLES Filed April 3, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Fig. Q.

" IRA sBQYDsTLm i 0+ I Q i gowcm lo'n 1 NOV. 6, 195] s, BQYDSTUN 2,574,166

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING DISCRETE PARTICLES Filed April 5, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 grwc/wfo v IRA SBOYDS'IUN Guam,

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE. FOR. DISPENSING DISCRETE PARTICLES Ira. S.B'oyds.t'un, Houston-,Tex.

Application April 3,1947; S'erialNb. 739,042

This invention relatestoa device for dispensing discrete particles, and more particularly it relates to a device tobemounted on top-of' a container andwhich will dispense ameasured quantity from the container each time it is inverted;

One object of this: invention is to provide a dispensing device that will repeatedly deliver measured quantifies of discrete particles: of solid material without the customary manual. measuring with. separate measuring-devices.

Another obj ect of. this; invention is to provide a device of the character previously mention'edthatwill handle solidmateriaf; inparticl'eisize ranging from. the. finest powder up to the size of a c'ofiee bean.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a dispensing deviceof'the character described that is readily'attachablelto standard commercial containers and which canlreadil vberemoved from an emptied container and be attached to another container;

This dispensing device can readily be provided to fit alli sizes of commercial containers and is particularly convenientand .advantageous for dispensing measured quantities: ofi cofieeg regardless of whether the coffieebe. powdered, finely ground; coarsely ground} or in; the whole bear-1. Likewise the device is especially advantageous for dispensing: measured: quantitieseof sugar salt, meal, flour, baking powdemldrypowlderedior granulated d-rugs etc.

This: dispensing device is. d'esigned to deliver identical volumes: each time the container to which it is attached is inverted; butthe devices can bemade in diiierentlsizesto deliver any predetermined volume; For" instance. the devicecan be. constructed to invariably deliver a teaspoonful, or to invariably deliver a cu-pful i A- tablespoonful. sizewouid be particularly convenient for coffee, the teaspoonful'for-sugar, and-i the cupful for flour. Any other prescribed size could be as easily constructed and as satisfactorily used.

For uses where it isdesired to-keep" the contents of thecontainer away-from open airthedi'scharge spout of this device can be fitted with a hinged cover or africtioncap-or'a screw cap; The caps are especially adapted for use when the dispenser is made a part of afactory-filled container and it is desired tomaintain avacuum in the container, the latter practice being common in the case of coifee.

This device is animprovement over fixed.- volume dispensing devicesheretofore available in that this device delivers the measured vol m 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-41681) simply by inverting the container to which it is attached. It doesnot require the use of two hands to operate it, or the pushingor pulling or twisting of some element. 7

Thedevice can best be described with reference to the attached drawings; in which Figure 1V is a broken view being principally a vertical section along. the majoraxis of the device; but showing a small portion or the base: in elevation;

Figure2 is aivertical section and elevationtaken along section'line-22-of Figure'lr,

Figure 3' is a vertical section" and elevation take along-section-line 3-3 lof'Fig-u re 2;

V Figurei is atopview 'ofzthe'device;

Figure 5- is a. detail or the discharge" spout of the device, showing theuse-ofahinged cover to exclude air;

Figure Swisa detail of the discharge spout of the device, showing the use of a friction cap to exclude air Figure Z is. a detail of a latch shown in- Figure 1 for preventing backward movement of the rotor.

Referring to Figure 1, .reference, numeral. H1 indicatesa container to. which thedispensing device is-attached,..in this case aconventional: screw cap jar. suchas. commonly used ior coffee: The dispensing device is fitted with a base adapted to also serve as a means of fastening to the container the contents of'which are to be handled. In Figure 1 the base and fastening means takes, the form of a screw cap I l to .fit jar l 0. Screw cap- H has an opening l2 which serves as althroat for feeding the contents of the container into the dispensing device. The body of the dispensing device comprises mainly a shortcylindric housing with side walls l3 and. end walls 20 and 2|. (see Figure 2).. It communicates at its basewith. the container I'll through eylindric I throat I2, and is fitted at the top with cylindric spout I4; 7 g

The throat I2 isv shown to be thecfull width of the rotor housing; but when fine particles are to be dispensed it is advantageous to make this-throat slightly narrower than the distance between the nd walls I! of'the rotor.v This reduces the tendency of particles to work intothe narrow space between rotor walls IT and housing, walls 20 and 21.

The rotor as a whole is identified by reference numeral l5. This rotor fits snugly but freely inside of the housing I3' and comprises rotor side walls l6, rotor end .walls I1 (see Figure 2'), and a, bi'secting diaphragm L8. The bisecting diaphragm l8 dividesthe rotor into the identical .follows.

measuring chambers A and B. The rotor is mounted concentrically with the housing side walls l3 on shaft I9. It will be noted that the side walls l6 of the rotor do not extend unbroken through the entire 360". Openings CD and EF, comparable in size to throat l2 and spout 4 serve as the channels for filling and emptying the two measuring chambers A and B formed in the rotor by diaphragm I8. Latch 22, pivoted -on bracket 23 serves a purpose which will be subsequently described in connection with the operation of the dispensing device. So also latch 24, pivoted on bracket 25.

Figure 2 is a vertical section and elevation,'

taken along section line 22 of Figure 1. Referring to this figure, end walls H of the rotor and end walls and 2| of the housing have already been mentioned, as also haveall-ele ments indicated by lower reference numerals. Section line has been placed on Figure 2 to identify the plane on which the sectional view in Figure 1 is taken. The remainder of Figure 2 can best be described in conjunction with Figure 3. i

Shaft l8 extends the entire length axially of the dispensing device and has fastened to it in fixed relation not only rotor. l5 but also ratchet wheel 26. The ratchet wheel teeth are cut in the manner indicated in Figure 3. Shaft l9 also carries weight 21, but this weight is not fastened to the shaft and it revolves freely about it. Weight 21 carries a spring pawl 28 fastened to the weight at 29. Stops 30 and 3| protrude from housing 2| and limit the movement of weight 21. The weight is shown at onelimit of its course, against stop 30, and the opposite extreme of its motion, resting against stop 3|, is indicated by dashed outline 32. The ratchet 26 and weight 21 are enclosed by housing 33. Housing walls 20, 2| and 33 are pierced to receive and support shaft l9. Wall 2| is not essential between rotor wall |1 andratchet wheel 26, but is advantageous in keeping particles of matter from container H) from getting in around the ratchet and weight.

Figure 4 is'a top view of the dispensing device and all reference numerals appearing thereon have been identified in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a detail of the discharge spout l4 fitted with a cover 34 hinged at 35, the hinge being put on the same side of spout M as the latch 22 so as to permit convenient pouring.

Figure 6 is a detail of the discharge snout I4 fitted with a friction cap 36 to exclude air. The outside of spout II and inside of cap 36 can advantageously be turned with a slight tracer to give a tight fit. Also the cap may be of thin metal, lightly sweated on to permit easy removal, and thus permit packing the container and dispenser under vacuum. V

Figure '1 is an enlarged view of latch 24 in throat I 2 at the base of the dispensing device. Latch 24 is carried from the wall of throat I2 by bracket 25. The latch is designed to resist clockwise motion of rotor edge E and to permit of its being pushed down out of the way by counter-clockwise motion of rotor edge F or edge D. K

The operation of the dispensing device is as The screw cap II or other equivalent fastening means is fastened to the container In.

and if not already in that position the rotor. |5 isbrought into the position shown in Figure 1 with its openings 0-D and EF in register with the spout l4 and throat I2, respectively. This can be done by moving the rotor with the finger or by tilting the device to the necessary degree. For the purpose of this description it will be assumed that opening CD of measuring chamber A is in register with pouring spout I4 and that container H1 is in an upright position and is filled with suitable material. To actuate this device it isnecessary that the dispenser be inverted in a direction that would be contra-clockwise in respect to Figures 1 and 3, and whenever a. motion is spoken of in this description as clockwise or contra-clockwise it means such direction with respect to Figures --1 and 3.

material from container III will pour through throat l2 and opening E-F and fill measuring chamber B. When the device is so inverted, the weight 21 rotates freely around shaft I9 and falls to the position indicated in Figure, 3 by reference numeral -32, its motion being limited by stop 3|. When the weight moves in this clockwise direction from stop 30 to stop 3| the pawl 28 rides lightly over the teeth of ratchet 26 without turning the ratchet wheel and the shaft I! which is fixed to therotor l5.

Gravity will always keep weight 21 hanging below shaft IS'and when the inverted dispenser is returned to an. upright position through a clockwise motion thepawl 28 attached to weight 21 will engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 26 and maintain the ratchet wheel and therotor in an unchanged position with respect to the earth. this is assured by making'weight 21 several times as heavy as the contents'of a filled measuring compartment. Measuring chamber B was higher than measuring chamber A when the dispensing device was inverted and it retains that higher position when the dispensing device is restored to an upright position. After this first filling of one measuring chamber the device functions uniformly until container III is empty. Subsequent functioning is as follows. The device is now standing uprightwith measuring chamber Bin the upper position, filled with material from container. ID in the last previous operation. When the container l0 and thedispenser are now inverted by a counter-clockwise motion the rotor retains a fixed position with respect to its housing and measuring chamber B pours its contents out through spout ll. Simultaneously measuring chamber, A is being filled by material flowing downward into it through throat |2 from container III. From this point on, the operation is precisely as described for the initial operation.

It will be noted that the movement of the dispensing device housing is always contra-clockwise to pour and clockwise in returning to an upright position, thatthemovement of the rotor is always contra-clockwise,;that the rotor remains in fixed relation to its housing during. the contra-clockwise motionto pour and remains in fixed relation tothe earthduring the clockwise motion of the container to an upright position. The-weight 21 operating through pawl 28 on ratchet wheel 26 preventsclockwise rotation of the rotor I5. This is so because, as previously pointed out, the ratchet wheel 26 and the rotor I5 are both fastened in fixed relation to shaft I9 while weight 21 is not fastened to the shaft and is free to rotate independentlywithin the limits ofstopssoandal. 4

awaree Rotor does not move in. fixed. relation to its housing during the return; from pouring position because: ofthe restraining; influence of weight 21,. but it does not ordinarily faili to maintain fixed position with its housing when being invertedto pour. This results from the: small. amount of friction naturally present in I the system and from the fact that the weight of the. material in the measuring chamber is all above thevshaft, l9

and that tends to cause rotationrin the: one possible direction when equilibrium is. disturbed.

A device of this character, to win: public; approval when put into: wide. use, mustoperate: sat.- isfactorily in all hands. and even. when. abused and it is therefore fitted with latches 22: and; 234-. If pouring is donewitha. jerky.- and: swiftmot-ionit: is sometimes possible to.- impart, enough mo. men-tum to the rotorwith its; unbalanced; charge of material so that. it will overrun. its housing in the counter-clockwise motion and tend: to carry the openings CD and E-F beyond thev spout l4 and throat [2. To prevent. this. possibility I provide a. latch 22 which prevents. the, edges: D- and F from advancing ahead of the housing, in the first portion of, the pouring motion. Such restraint is needed only'in the first'portion of the pouring motion and the latch. is designed. to fallaway from the path of the rotorirr the. final portions of the pouringmotion. The latch hangs well away from thepath of rotor edgesD: and B when the spout l4. passes back over themin. starting to return to an upright position.

When weight 2.1 is moving from position against stop 3!] to position against stop 3| the pawl 28 runs freely over the inclined sides of the ratchet teeth. If the pawlismade. of. sufficiently light and sensitive spring material. it will not exert enough drag on the teeth to cause any rotation of the rotor in aclockwise direction but that possibility can always: be. provided against by a latch 24 positionedin throat. t2. latch is shown enlarged inliigure It. is carried on a. bracket. 25, and. that portion of it below itspivot is made to weigh. more than. the. upper portion so that it will. stand upright in the early: stages of the pouring motion. and thus stand in position to prevent clockwise motion of the roton. In those cases where this latch is. called on to serve its function the rotor edge E or edge C will be bearing against it from. an'early stage of" the pouring motion and thus: hold; it in operative position. If the. rotor is: not. bearingv against latch 21!. the heavier weightinitslower" portion will. pull. it outof the path of the rotor when the dispensing device is in a partially inverted position. Even when standing upright latch 24 cannot interfere with counter-clockwise rotation of the rotor because it is designed as shown to yield and move down out of the path of the rotor when the rotor is moving in its intended counterclockwise direction.

In the appended claims, when I speak of successive reciprocative inversion I mean thereby a succession of cycles in which the dispensing device is in each cycle moved from an upright position to an inverted position and back to an upright position, the successive motions being a part revolution in one direction followed by a similar part revolution in the opposite direction. The successive inversions are described as reciprocative to distinguish from the successive inversions that would be performed by a continuing rotation of the device in a single direction. My device would not function if the motion from upright to inverted to upright were performed by a; complete revolutiozrin onedirection: its functioning .is dependent: on; a:- reciprocating; motion imwhich. the: device; is; invertedifrom upright by a; motiorr one, direction, followed by a motion in the; opposite: direction. back to upright.

.. Whatllcl'ainris:

1.. A device for usein conjunction with a container for dispensing therefrom fixed volumes of dry material in. the form of discrete. particles; which comprises a: hollow cylindric rotor divided on. an'. axial: plane.- into two equal measuring chambers. each" chamberflhaving an opening for emptying, the two such. openings be ing diametrically opposite; a housing fitted snugly around the rotor while yet free enough topermit easy movement of rotor in relation to housing; openings in diametrically opposite sides of the: housing coinciding with the openings in the rotor, one such opening serving as a discharge spout.- and the other such opening serving as a filling throat; a container cover with means for fastening to said container, fitted with an opening; and apassageway from the opening in said container cover to the aforementioned filling throat of the housing; a shaft mounted axially of the cyclindri'c rotor and fastened thereto andjournal'ed in the ends of the rotor housing tomaint'ain the rotor concentric therein; a ratchet wheel mounted on said'shaftand fastened there-jto; a weight hanging loosely pendent from the said shaft'adjacent' to the ratchet wheel and'carrying a pawl engagingtheteeth of said ratchet wheel; a stop located on the housing immedi'' ately alongside the position taken by the weight- Y when the dispensing device is in an upright position, and on that side; of the weight that willprevent motion of the weight in the direction that would cause the pawl to engage the teeth of the'ratchet wheel; a second stock located on thehousing; to permit the weight to move 180 around the shaft from its position against: the first-mentioned stop, and to prevent its moving substantially more than 180.

2. A device for use in conjunction with a container for dispensing therefrom fixed volumes of. dry material in the form of discrete particles, which comprises a hollow cylindric rotor divided, onf an axial plane into two equal measuring chambers, each chamber having an opening for filling and emptyinglthe two such openings being" diametrically opposite; a housing fitted; snugly around the rotor while yet free enough to permit easy movement "of rotor in relation to housing, openings in diametrically opposite sides of the housing coinciding with the openings in the rotor, one such opening serving as a discharge spout and the other such opening serving as a filling throat; a container cover with means for fastening to said container, fitted with an opening, and a passageway from the opening in said container cover to the aforementioned filling throat of the housing; a shaft mounted ax- 1'a1ly of the cylindric rotor and fastened thereto and journaled in the ends of the rotor housing to maintain the rotor concentric therein; a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft and fastened thereto; a weight hanging loosely pendent from the said shaft adjacent to the ratchet wheel and carrying a pawl engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel; a stop located on the housing immediately alongside the position taken by the weight when the dispensing device is in an upright position, and on that side of the weight that will prevent motion of the weight in the direction that would cause the pawl to engage the amen-6e teeth of the ratchet wheel; a second stop 10* cated on the housing to permit the weight to move 180 around the shaft from its position against the first-mentioned stop, and to pre vent its moving substantially more than 180; a latch positioned on the housing adjacent the rotor which, when 'the dispensing device is in anuprlght position, falls into position to stop the rotating rotor with its opening in alignment with the aforementioned discharge spout and which falls out of the path of the rotor when the dispensing device is in an inverted position; and a second latch to prevent reverse rotation of the rotor.

3. A device for use in conjunction with a container for dispensing therefrom fixed volumes of dry material in the form of discrete particles, which comprises a hollow cylindric rotor divided on an axial plane into two equal measuring chambers, each chamber having an opening for filling and emptying, the two such openings being diametrically opposite; a housing fitted snugly around the rotor while yet free enough to permit easy movement of rotor in relation to housing, openings in diametrically opposite sides of the housing coinciding with the openings in the rotor, one such opening serving as a discharge spout andthe other such opening serving as a filling throat; a container cover with means for fastening to said container, fitted with an opening, and a passageway from the opening in said container cover to the aforementioned filling throat of-the housing; a shaft mounted axially of the cylindric rotor and fastened thereto and journaled in the ends of the rotor housing to maintain the rotor concentric therein; a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft and fastened thereto; a weight hanging loosely pendent from the said shaft adjacent to the ratchet wheel and carrying a pawl engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel; a stop located on the housing immediately alongside the position taken by the weight when the dispensing device is in an upright position, and on that side of the weight that will prevent motion of the weight in the direction that would cause the pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel; a second stop located on the housingto permit the weight to move 180 around the shaft from its position against the first-mentioned stop, and to prevent its moving substantially more than 180; a pendent latch 8V its opening in alignment with the aforementioned discharge spout, and hanging out of the path of the rotor when the dispensing device is in an inverted position; and a second latch positioned in the filling throat to prevent reverse rotation of the rotor.

4. In combination, a container and a dispensing device comprising a hollow cylindric rotor fixedly mounted on an axial shaft and divided on an axial plane into two separate measuring compartments and having two openings, one for each compartment, located in the cylindrical surface of the rotor and positioned diametrically opposite one another; a housing fitting the rotor closely while not interfering with its free rotation, said housing being connected with the aforementioned container and having a port in communication therewith and in alignment with one of the two openings of the rotor, and having a second port diametrically opposite the first port; and means which, when actuated by successive reciprocative inversion, rotate the rotor to successively align a rotor opening with the housing port in communication with the container and then in communication with the opposite housing port, said means including a ratchet wheel fixedly mounted on the aforementioned shaft, a pendent weight loosely mounted on said shaft, and a pawl attached to said weight and positioned to transfer the rotative motion of the weight in one direction to the ratchet wheel and rotor.

IRA S. BOYDS'I'UN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,643 Clark Mar. 11, 1873 335,940 I Livingston Feb. 9, 1886 738,855 Snyder Sept. 15, 1903 852,603 Hanlon May 7, 1907 951,511 Osincup Mar. 8, 1910 1,165,907 Riddle Dec. 28, 1915 2,122,695 Podwyszynski July 5, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number Country Date 231,010 Great Britain Mar. 11, 1873 239,377 Great Britain Sept. 10, 1925 257,250 Italy Feb. 20, 1928 666,373 Germany Dec. 15, 1939 

